European fisheries ministers turn their back on the economic potential of fish recovery in the North East Atlantic

Brussels — The Agriculture and Fisheries Council agreed tonight to allow continued overfishing in North-East Atlantic. Once again, ministers approved catch limits for 2017 that surpass scientific recommendations, ignoring the facts that 64% of European stocks are overfished and 85% are below healthy levels . EU countries have a legally binding obligation to fish stocks at sustainable levels by 2020 at the latest. With today’s decision Ministers undermine their own Common Fisheries Policy. “The consequences of today’s irrational decision will live longer than the Ministers’ political mandates. Half of Atlantic stocks are already overfished and overfishing will now continue into 017.” explains Lasse Gustavsson, executive director of Oceana in Europe. “It is difficult to understand why Ministers fail to see the great opportunity of fish recovery for EU fishermen and citizens ...